I think most of us at least once have googled symptoms when we felt something that we never had before or different than we are used to, such as intense headache, stomach ache or pain in the lower back. And after analyzing articles, we get scared, as almost everything leads to serious illness that may result in death. However, usually, when we visit the doctor, we get some relieved news that it’s nothing serious.
Well, unfortunately, sometimes these mild symptoms may turn into serious life or death situations. Speaking about that, one Reddit user recently started a thread asking doctors to share situations when patients came in with mild symptoms and thought that it was nothing serious, but turned out to be in near-death conditions.
Cases like this are rare, but it may be a reminder to visit doctors regularly, get checkups and take care of our health.
More info: Reddit
#1
NAD, but this story is about an "elderly but not ancient" relative.
Background: I had a hysterectomy due to general uterus shenanigans in 2019. My surgeon is awesome, I had a great surgery & easy peasy recovery.
So one day this relative calls me out of the blue and says "what was the name of the OBGYN who did your hysterectomy?" and I tell her, and ask why, knowing that this person has been through menopause for a long a*s time.
"Wouldn't you know it, I got my damn period this morning! I thought I was done with this s**t!"
Well my friends, that reaction of "oh hell no, I'm done with this s**t" turned out to be a life saver, because what she thought was just menopause being weird turned out to be endometrial cancer caught SUPER early. She had a hysterectomy, one round of radiation, and is cancer free 3 years on.
Bleeding after you've been through menopause is SUSPICIOUS AS HELL, yinz.
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186points
#2
Paramedic, not a doctor. A woman called 911 requesting an ambulance. When I and my brand new rookie EMT got there, she complained of just not feeling well and having a mild headache. I did my assessment and everything looked perfectly normal except it seemed she might have a cold with a headache. I didn't think she needed to be seen in an ER and told her so. She wavered back and forth and then finally agreed to sign a refusal. I sent my rookie partner out to get the clipboard but he pulled me aside and told me he thought she needed to go. I asked him why and the best he could do was "I just have a feeling." So I finally relented and told him, "Fine, your patient; I'm driving."
A few blocks down the road he leaned up front and asked me to make it hot (lights & sirens). I rolled my eyes but did what he asked.
At the ED the grumpy triage nurse came up to me a few minutes later and wanted to know why the hell we transported a perfectly healthy woman with a cold and headache. I just nodded toward my partner and said, "You'll have to ask him."
Anyway, we left, but a few hours later we were at the same ED and that same nurse came up to me and told me the news. Because of the headache the doc had ordered a CT scan, and lo and behold there was a dissecting aneurism right next to her brainstem. She had been shipped out to the trauma center by helicopter and was undergoing emergency surgery. I learned later that she survived without deficits.
Holy c**p. If I'd had a more experienced partner that day, she would have ended up dead and it would have been my fault.
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156points
Moreover, Bored Panda got in touch with the author of this thread and she kindly agreed to shed light on the motivation behind the creation of this discussion.
“I posed this question because ironically enough, I have more anxiety about going to the doctor than is probably healthy,” she shared. “I avoid doctors like it's my job and ignore symptoms more than I should.”
The author emphasized that she needs to remind herself not to do that every so often and these stories are definitely a good motivation to visit doctors more often and pay attention to symptoms more.
#3
I was the patient. We had gone to India for a wedding (absolutely incredible!) And naturally, our north American digestive tracts, everyone suffered from "Delhi Belly". I was hit harder than most (almost didn't get on our flight home because I was worried about having to use the bathroom if the seatbelt sign was on or if there was a line up). Ultimately got home. Everyone in the group (about 12 people) were feeling better, but I was still having some minor gastro issues. Nothing crazy, still working and living normal life. Went to a walk in because my family doc couldn't see me for at least 2 weeks. Walk in doc ordered some tests and prescribed an antibiotic. I got a call the test came back negative, but if I was still feeling unwell, to come back (this was like 2 weeks after my first visit). I debated, but decided to go back, turns out they never ran the e coli test, so they run that again. Doc said she'll call me when the results were in.
I didn't hear back, but my now MIL (a doc) caught wind I was still dealing with gastro issues and asked if she could call the lab to get my results. I said "sure, that would be great".
In the meantime, a friend is visiting from out of town and I wanted to show her a good time, so we went out dancing. At some point in the evening my now MIL had called me something like 17 times, leaving voice mails and texts to get to the hospital asap. Don't go home to change, don't get public transit (IE cab because it'll be faster), just go STRAIGHT to the hospital.
The nurses were absolutely FLOORED the e coli hadn't gotten into my blood stream (this was about a month after our trip). Apparently my urine test came back absolutely overrun with an antibiotic resistant e coli.
Best part, the walk in doc fiiiiiiinally called me about a week after my hospital visit telling me she has the results and I should come see her. My MIL happened to be standing beside me when I received the call and asked to talk to the doc. As a teacher at the university here, the walk in doc knew who she was and had to walk my MIL through my case to identify ALL the ways she let me down as a patient (including asking me to come into the clinic instead of rushing to the hospital).
I'm totally fine now and remain forever grateful to my now MIL!
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141points
#4
My dad woke up with severe back pain one morning after not doing anything strenuous the weeks/days leading up to it. My mom flipped her s**t and finally put her foot down that he had to go to the doctor after him putting off going to a doctor for years even for a routine check-up.
That appointment showed a broken rib from a huge tumor on his spine, along with tumors around his buttocks/pelvis and upper back. Diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. 5 years and 100 treatments later he’s still kicking it.
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119points
#5
I don't know if it counts but I got bit by a bat and thought I should go get the rabies vaccine right away and my wife said "it's expensive, see if you even get sick" and I almost listened to her advice until I looked up what the first symptoms would be to know what to watch for and everything was pretty unanimous once symptoms start it has a 100% kill rate and if you get bit it's non negotiable you should go for the vaccine ASAP.
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117points
Now, speaking about whether sharing these stories can raise awareness about the importance of taking mild symptoms seriously, the author emphasizes that stories like this in fact can help to raise awareness to listen to your gut. “In a lot of the comments I read, patients were definitely aware something was ‘off’ but couldn't put their finger on what exactly ‘it’ was,” she adds.
#6
I don’t know about haunting me for life but here’s one I’ve never forgotten. I worked as a CNA in a dementia unit.We had a wheelchair bound gentleman who started pulling the fire alarm set into the wall of the hallway by his room. Because this was a nursing home, every time that alarm was set off the fire department responded… quickly. Our gentleman started pulling it several times a day and often a few times in the evening as well, all day, every day. It didn’t take long for the fire department to lose any sense of humor they might have had about the situation and start leveling fines on the facility. Progressively bigger ones as time passed and our friend continued his trick in spite of numerous attempts to stop him. The staff was written up and upper management was going apes**t.We just didn’t have enough staff to have someone constantly monitor a single patient. Finally, someone thought to ask this gentleman WHY he was pulling the fire alarm. His reply was astonishing… he pointed to the dammed thing and very reasonably explained “ it says PULL “. It did, in big red letters three inches high. A simple piece of masking tape over the instructive word solved a huge problem. People with dementia aren’t exactly themselves anymore but they’re certainly far from stupid.
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116points
#7
I’m a nurse, not a doctor, but we had a guy come in years ago asking for a medication to “help him stop sweating.” He said he had had a sore throat for about a week, went to a walk in clinic, was diagnosed with strep throat and put on antibiotics, but he was so sweaty and just wanted a break from it. He looked pale and was indeed sweaty, so we took him back and ran some blood tests. His white blood count was the highest I’ve ever seen and he was diagnosed with leukaemia. We sent him to another hospital for immediate treatment, but we were informed he died literally hours after arriving. Incredibly sad, I couldn’t believe it.
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114points
Finally, the author shares that she did not expect this post to blow up the way it did. She noted that the answers that she has read were intense. “The ones that stuck out the most are any of the ones that involved kids. It's always awful when something happens to children, but I especially can't imagine bringing your child in for something basic and routine and having your entire world flipped on you in an instant.”
#8
Hubby went to a&e with shoulder ache ( he had wrenched it a few days before) they sent him home with codiene & said to go back if it didn't improve. It didn't so 3 days later we returned this time they x-rayed showed nothing so they did an ECG, within seconds they were racing round inserting cannulas etc. Blue lighted him to another hospital straight into the cath lab where they removed 5 clots from one side of his heart & a massive clot ( widow maker ) from the other, inserted 2 stents. Cardiologist admitted he doesn't know how hubby survived said he probably had a minute or two to live. 12 years later he's still here ( after surviving another heart attack 4 years after the 1st- at Donington Monsters Of Rock Festival). One lucky man & one grateful wife
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111points
#9
Veterinarian, not MD.
During my internship, a woman came in with her 6-year-old labrador around 1am.
Lab lady: "My dog needs an ultrasound."
Me: "Oh? What are you seeing that you're concerned about?"
Lab lady: "She left the house to go out on the porch this evening, and then she just laid down."
Me: "Is she eating and drinking ok? Any other issues?"
Lab lady: "Everything else is fine. But something is wrong with her."
Me "Well, how about we start with some x-rays?"
X-rays are taken - there's a very obvious splenic mass.
Me: "Ma'am, your dog needs an ultrasound."
Long story short, it was lymphoma in the spleen. They did everything they could and bought her another 10 months or so. Very good dog and devoted owner.
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110points
#10
Not a doctor but worked as a security supervisor at a hospital.
Man and his wife came in. Man is feeling unwell thinks he has like a flu or a cold or something. I can't remember exactly what. Nothing serious but they don't have a family doctor, so they came to ER.
Man gets in line for triage and his wife leaves to go park the car after dropping him off.
Like I said I'm not a doctor but how it was explained to me was part of this mans digestive tract just... exploded? Because he sits down and within 30 seconds he's slouched over and dead.
My guards respond, realize he's not responding or breathing and pull him onto the floor and start doing compressions. EMS and nurses quickly join us from the back and rush him to a triage room but whatever happened wasn't recoverable.
Wife got back into the ER just expecting him to be hanging out in line. Instead are met with my guards telling her that her husband is dead in the back with staff trying to bring him back.
Like I can't even imagine how that is from the wifes perspective. She leaves with her husband basically fine and wasn't gone for more than five minutes and comes back and he's just gone.
I was on break at the time and missed the situation but had to come back and deal with some shell shocked guards.
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99points
#11
Mom was constantly in and out of doctors' offices and ERs for many things such as extremely tired, extreme weight gain, periods lasting months, and a bad case of dehydration. Finally, an ER doctor took notice and sent her for a CT and found a grapefruit sized tumor in her vena cava. Later diagnosed with stage 4 Leiomyosarcoma. Gave her a few weeks to live but she battled for about 5 more years.
Edit: spelling
96points
#12
I was the patient. Spent six months being told I had a bad cold and anemia so I should take iron pills. Turns out I had an autoimmune disease and my kidneys were failing. I eventually ended up on dialysis and with a transplant.
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93points
#13
Patient’s wife called. Patient had a temperature of 98.6. No other symptoms.
I explained that was a normal temperature but the wife said “that’s a fever for him.” She said she felt like something was wrong, despite no other symptoms.
I told her that I respect that and that if she feels something is wrong she should get him checked out in the ER.
The ER doctor called four hours later and said they did all they could do for him but he died of sepsis. He appeared to be normal when he got there but rapidly declined.
That gave me a new appreciation that we truly can’t evaluate someone thoroughly over a telephone.
90points
#14
My husband went in for a routine checkup. His bloodwork was fine. Everything was fine. The only thing was him saying he just a little more tired than usual.
His Dr noticed that he was due for a colonoscopy, and set one up for him. The DR who did the colonoscopy said everything looked good, but, he just felt there was something up.
So, my husband went back to his regular Dr, and she did a complete look at him. Bloodwork showed a very slight increase of white blood cells. So, she decided what the hell, let's do an abdominal scan just to do a look-see since the colonoscopy Dr didn't feel quite right about things even tho there was nothing showing.
Apparently his appendix was inflamed, and surgery was scheduled to take it out. Upon removal, not only was it inflamed, but infected, and cancerous as well.
Turns out that:
a) it was confined at that time to the appendix
b) it was a particularly nasty little cancer that likes to spread
c) the cancer was at the far part of the appendix, so when they removed the appendix the margins were clear.
d) it led to the discovery of him actually having a genetic issue called Lynch Syndrome which they were able to figure out was thru the maternal line. Turns out that his mom's uterine cancers, his uncle's death of colon cancer, and his grandmother's various cancer issues were all related to this genetic abnormality.
If he hadn't gone in for his checkup and procrastinated, his appendix would have gotten worse, and the cancer would have spread. There's a good chance the cancer would have gotten into his intestines and ended up with intestinal cancer of some sort if they hadn't gotten it. He is still very suspectable to getting cancers because of this genetic condition.
He found out early enough to be able to be proactive enough for care and prevention. It's been almost 10 years since diagnosis and he has been healthy as a horse since then. He gets a colonoscopy every year because of it, but thats a small price to pay.
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90points
#15
Im a dentist. New pt came in with what he thought was a mild ache in his teeth. Thought it was a toothache. Hadnt seen a dentist in years.
Took a radiograph and the jaw bone around the teeth looked strange. Had him see an oral surgeon that day. Turned out was a very aggressive metastatic bone cancer and died a few weeks later
Took a radiograph and the jaw bone around the teeth looked strange. Had him see an oral surgeon that day. Turned out was a very aggressive metastatic bone cancer and died a few weeks later
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89points
#16
I was the patient. My mom kept bringing me to the doctor because I was continuously complaining of tummy pain. I had just started school. The doctor said I was likely just trying to get out of school and stay home with my mom. I complained the whole school year. She even brought me to the ER a few times and they essentially said the same thing. They never did any imaging, sometimes blood work.
Finally one day I started peeing blood and she took me right to the children's hospital and I was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer, by then it had spread to both lungs, liver, lymph nodes and around the heart.
86points
#17
Probably not particularly crazy, it might happen all the time for all I know…. Not a doctor, but I went in to urgent care thinking I had a nasty uti but it turned out to be severe sepsis, got whisked away in an ambulance on oxygen.
That’s what I get for my mom teaching me it’s all in my head.
85points
#18
Still in school and I was not present for this patient’s initial admission but rather her clinic follow up; however..
Patient was healthy 50-something year old who had an extended nosebleed after a long hike. It wouldn’t stop so they went to ER to get it cauterized/impacted (happens all the time). Anyway, they did a CT scan as protocol and discovered she had a 20+ cm tumor on her uterus that was wrapping around her right kidney; she was immediately referred to a serious academic hospital and had a specialized oncology surgeon remove it.
Amazingly? They got it completely removed without even having to damage the kidney. She had an amazing outcome and about a half a foot scar running around her abdomen from the surgery.
Edit for clarification: I do not believe the CT scan was due to the nosebleed itself but rather I imagine as they looked further into her blood work and coagulation studies they found something that warranted further work up.
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84points
#19
26 year old seemingly healthy male came to my office (eye doctor) with complaints of mild blurry vision. Usually a very routine complaint and very easy fix with glasses/contacts.
After a few minutes of trying to get him see better with the refracting lenses, I wasn't able to improve his vision when it shouldn't take that long for someone that young.
I decided to quit trying and quickly look in the back of his eyes. Hemorrhages everywhere, swollen optic nerves. He ended up having malignant hypertension causing his retinae to swell. His blood pressure was 270/170 in office which could have made him have a stroke at any minute. We physically drove him to the ER where he was admitted.
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83points
#20
Not a doctor’s perspective but my dad went to his doctor because he suddenly didn’t like the taste of broccoli. Dad was otherwise healthy, late 60’s, fairly active guy. He was diagnosed with leukaemia.
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80points